740.00119 Council/11–3045: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 30—5:30 p.m.]
4022. It would be helpful if I could be informed whether it is your intention to send me for presentation to Soviet Government a final statement of our position in connection with control of Japan as contemplated in the last paragraph of your 2361, November 17, 5 p.m. or whether you intend to leave the matter open until the meeting. (This message is supplementary to Embassy’s 3944, November 24, 3 a.m.)
It is impossible for me to form a definite opinion as to whether Molotov is continuing to pursue trading tactics, as superficially might appear to be the case, since he has somewhat restricted his demands with each interchange of notes and attendant discussions. On the other hand, you will recall that Stalin at one time in my conversations with him at Sochi mentioned that perhaps it might be best for the Russians to stay out of Japan. It may have been decided as a matter of policy by the high Soviet officials that unless they get what they want in Japan they would stay out or they may wish to keep the situation open so that it can be used in connection with Eastern European negotiations. Molotov in his conversations with me has argued the points at issue firmly but without heat and without giving me a definite indication that any position was final. For his part he has [Page 872] been unwilling to accept my statements given on several occasions that our position was final as to our ultimate responsibility in Japan.